Dozens of families and hundreds of Jews in Givat Zeev, a town
located outside Jerusalem on the north, near the road to
Modi'in Illit, are drawing closer to Torah and
Yiddishkeit, following a range of local activities
during the past year.
One year ago, Givat Zeev became host to a kollel
avreichim headed by HaRav Yinon Raviv, a talmid
muvhok of HaRav Dov Schwartzman, the rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud in Jerusalem. The kollel
operates in cooperation with the Wolfson Foundation, which is
engaged in harbotzas Torah and kiruv activities
among town residents. This year, several high school students
were sent to yeshivas and are turning into genuine bnei
Torah.
The change is felt most noticeably at Maalot Shalhevet
Hagiv'ah, a Torah-based school set up by HaRav Raviv four
years ago with the encouragement and support of maranan
verabonon, including Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv
and HaRav Shmuel Auerbach. When the talmud Torah was
founded, with assistance from Lev L'Achim, a number of local
residents voiced staunch opposition to its presence in Givat
Zeev. But now the school is beginning its fifth year, with
nearly 120 students, kein yirbu.
The students come from traditional and religious families
which often become chareidi homes as a result of their sons'
and daughters' studies. The avreichim from the
kollel work with the parents, organizing
shiurim and chavrusas for the fathers and
shiurim by rebbetzins for the mothers.
Following recent letters from HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman,
HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg and other rabbonim calling on
local residents to send their sons and daughters to this holy
institution, more and more parents sought to enroll their
children there this year.
Several years ago, a kollel was started in Givat Zeev
by the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas HaRan, HaRav Tzvi Weissfish.
Those avreichim are also involved in a range of Torah
outreach activities. In addition, the Admor of Karlin moved
to Givat Zeev several years ago.
Despite resistance by individuals estranged from Torah the
avreichim involved in outreach in Givat Zeev say their
efforts are paying off.
